It's Tor!!!

That's right - all the way from Oslo! My dear blog brother - Tor is sitting right beside me - for those of you who have never visited - Tor blogs at Toraa Mirror - zip right over to see his gorgeous pictures and all the fun at Tor and Anna's house.

We had a beautiful dinner of salmon, asparagus, salad, chilled wine all eaten outside with my dear friends J and S. Tomorrow we are having 15 - 20 people for a good old fashioned cook-out - more to come that's for sure.

Guests are on Their Way

I am so excited - my bestest Friend J and her husband, my brother S - arrive tomorrow along with our Mystery Blogger Guest. Some of you may have guessed the mystery blogger house guest's identity. It is only one day until the secret is revealed in Friday joint blog posts with pictures, of course.

Oh what fun we will have! I have 15 people coming for an old fashioned cook-out on Saturday. Yum, yum and fun, fun. My friend R is a geocaching "freak" and he is preparing a geocaching adventure nearby my house. After dinner we will all (or those who are interested) troop up to Indian Mounds Park, the top of which is just one-half mile from my house, and learn how to geocache.

I will take Friday and Monday off work. I am due for a break. It is very work busy right now. I am grateful to be busy with good work. It is also very wonderful to have some time to spend with friends. I am blessed.

Scribed on my Heart

So present the past few days - it is as though you walk again by my side. You sit in the empty space beside me. You hold me close in arms no longer here. You are the golden presence that I feel at times so close yet infinitely far away.

Unconditional love - freely given, joyfully accepted. At the outset of the grief journey, in pain, we ask others, "how long does it take?" - the short answer, "as long as it does." The thing one comes to understand is, "it is never over." We carry the love for our lost ones forever - scribed in my heart. I love you.

Happy Friday

So looking forward to this weekend. Preparing for my guests next weekend - seeing my acupuncturist tomorrow - going to the Farmer's Market - and just taking some time after a very busy week at work. I hope your weekend is super - filled with sunshine, fresh tomatoes and fun.

Happy Birthday

To my dearest, dearest eldest son - my shining light. This morning I am filled with memories of your little face, how frightened I was at 18 years old and a new mother. How little I knew; how much love I had in my heart. One day you called me and said, "thanks for having me Mom!" Oh my sweet son, thank you for being my own.

We really did grow up together. One day you called and said, "every year it got better!" In the very early years we traveled together and had lots of adventures. Shift forward - many times I worked two jobs, went back to school - got the promotions and yes, it got better.

Today, you are a loving father and husband - working hard and being successful in your chosen profession. You are loved so much in return and respected by those in all facets of your life. It was so neat to get up this morning to find a text message from you - sent right around your actual birth time of 12:31 AM - "I LOVE YOU" it said. B, I love you too. Happy Birthday Son.

Shhhhhhhhhh - A Big Surprise Ahead

One of my blog buddies is coming for a visit. This is someone that most of those who visit here know and love. I am very excited to finally meet this person - in person!! We will be taking pictures and joint-blogging. Watch for the surprise over the weekend of August 8th. So, to my dear blog buddy - safe travels and I will see you soon.

Busy Weekend Ahead

Tonight is the full moon - maybe that is why yesterday was so incredibly weird. We were putting out a packet for a client Board of Directors' Meeting and everything we touched backfired. Finally, at 3:30 pm it went out. At the end of the day someone said, "it must be the full moon." Yes madam!

I have plans, plans and more plans this weekend. I have a date with a friend to go to the Farmer's Market in the morning, then going to pick up mulch and put it down at the duplex, then home to clean up and meet another friend for tea and conversation. Home for a quiet dinner.

Sunday, I am meeting another girlfriend for breakfast and then going to services at the Unitarian Church - I went last week and loved it. After church it is home to have a massage (last Sunday is was nice enough that I had my massage outside on my private side patio under the big tree). I hope that is the case on Sunday. Wait, wait, I'm not done yet. I am going to still another friend's house for dinner. Stepping out in this newly forged life - connected and having fun.

What are you up to this weekend. I am going to cruise around now and see how all my blog buddies are doing. Have a terrific weekend.

Ahhhhhhhhh Summer

I JUST snapped these photos of my front entry - the first two are looking at the house and the last is looking out from my front door. It is so summer.

The weather today is incredible - bright sunshine, soft breezes, no humidity - Paradise. Did you know, we Minnesotans totally forget about winter - hmmmm, whaaaaa - winter, we have WINTER???? These days are enough - they are one of the reasons we continue to live in the Northland.

The basil is overflowing its tub - fresh tomatoes are green on the vine - soon, summer's delight - spicy basil, juicy red sweetness, a drizzle of green olive oil and a sprinkle of grey salt - heaven on earth. No not heaven - just summer. Ahhhhhh.

Happy Belated Birthday Blog

This morning it occurred to me that I have been keeping this blog for close to three years - I reflected how far I have come on the path to healing and wholeness and then I looked back for a moment to see my very first post.

It was three years on June 20th - as someone once said, "What a trip its been." I began blogging to record my grief journey for myself. I have journaled for many decades and still do so. For some reason, I was compelled to go online - starting the blog seemed a place that would stand witness to my grief in a very different way. I never gave a thought to the fact that anyone else would ever read it. I poured my heart to the keyboard and then some amazing, unexpected things began to happen. People started to leave comments and I began to visit other people's lives, opinions, triumphs and struggles through their writing and their blogs.

The blog stood witness to my journey and so have you. The support, the love, the encouragement, the love, and the friendship I have found here has been a major element in my journey to a new life. Happy Birthday Blog - in deepest gratitude and love across the miles - thank you my bloggy buddies.

Happy Independence Day

Have a happy and safe July Fourth - may your BBQ be juicy and your drinks be cold. Enjoy this long holiday weekend.

Happy July

Shining

That is what one spirit visitor said during my session with the Soul Reader. Here is just a little snippet of the messages for me on my birthday.

It has been so hard. You have been in a small, dark space and have walked through the mountain and now you shine. Just shining! I SEE you. I didn't see you before in this way. I don't think you did either. But you SHINE.

Keep going, keep going into the great wide open - with open heart, open mind, open eyes. You are shining. I love you.

The future is ahead - it is shining.

Birthdays are Special Days

Today was indeed wonderful. I visited with the Soul Reader - my dear sister friend M - gave me the session as part of my birthday gift. It was my third session with the Medium - every time is deeper. I will post more about the messages I received during our session in the next few days.

This was a beautiful day - many greetings and gifts from loving family and friends around the country. Many singing phone calls and voice mails :) You are never to too old to hear the birthday song.

I began my day with coffee with my dear friend Mark and went from there. A memorable day with the right amount of quiet reflective time, solitude and connection with those I love. I am blessed and filled with gratitude. Om Shanti.

My Astrological Forecast

Happy Birthday for Wednesday, June 25, 2008:

Many of your goals and dreams become possible the first half of this birthday year. You need to ask for what you want more often and discover what it is you need to make yourself happy. You often think one way and suddenly a flash of insight transforms your thinking. You are growing and evolving in new ways. The second half of your year, new people, new intellectual and spiritual concepts and/or potential travel will define this period. If you are single, you will have to work to keep this status. You have many admirers. If you are attached, you'll find that your relationship must grow if it is to maintain its validity. Aries can trigger you.

FOR ANOTHER ASTROLOGER'S PERSPECTIVE

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (JUNE 25) 2008

There's an enticing air of intrigue around you. You're not trying to be interesting, it's just that your dignified instinct is not to talk about the minutia of your decision-making process, and so you're imbued with silent power. Continue to trust your private process. September brings a windfall. Leo and Sagittarius are mad about you. Your lucky numbers are: 48, 20, 52, 37 and 31.

More Later Today..............

26 Months

Yes, that's right - today is my 26 month Quit Anniversary!! Oh Happy Day. I consider this one of my most treasured achievements. It is the embodiment of one day at a time. I am definitely a joyful nonsmoker - done, over, kaput, nada, never again.

The healthy and overall sense of well-being that goes with quitting is enormous. Even if you are not a big smoker and do not feel that it is compromising your health - it is. I have more stamina, more lung capacity when exercising, and I don't smell!!! If you are reading this and considering a quit - please do it, for yourself and for those you love. Quitnet is the premier online support site for quitting your addiction - it is peer support and great educational resources available 24/7.

So, celebrate with me today - my freedom from nicotine addiction and my knowing I can meet any goal to which I totally commit myself. Thank you too for all the unwavering encouragement and support my blog buddies provided me during those first months - you know who you are - gracias.

Here are my Quitnet stats:

791 days, 9 hours, 40 minutes and 23 seconds smoke free. 11871 cigarettes not smoked. $2,673.00 and 3 months, 16 hours of my life saved! My quit date: 4/23/2006 9:35:00 PM

I am FREE!!!!!